I haven’t shown this painting yet which I did last year. It depicts a moment at the beginning of the big snow blizzard in January 2016. I stept outside the door to take a quick photo. The light was just amazing and I had to capture that moment in a painting. I used acrylic paints, markers and charcoal. It is one of my favorite paintings I did last year – the only way I like winter …in a painting ;)
In October the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour 2016 – JCAST – took place and this was the third time I participated since I moved to the States. The flagship gallery in an old warehouse in JC was hopping and bopping with fun artwork and I was stoked to be part the group show.
I had thirteen paintings displayed – a series called “Urbanomics” and it was fun to see my family and friends coming out for the show
There was a lot of beautiful and inspiring artwork around – and I love getting to know more local artists and their work – there is so much talent here- it is mind blowing.
Unfortunately I forgot to jot down the name of the artist above. I loved it- the colors are actually different colored lights projected on the wall – the black lines of the geometric shapes are duct tape.
The paintings and the mural are by Blair Urban.
Lot’s of beautiful artwork in every corner.
Nupur Nishith, Panchtatva, acrylic and ink on canvas . Loved how intricate and colorful this was and Nupur explained to me the different elements of the painting.
Susan George, Ink on paper. Susan is my neighbor and I love how she made those paintings with ink on paper- inspired by zentangle and traditional mandala – every detail of these paintings were so perfect- it was amazing.
Tom Wilson, Blue Room, acrylic, enamel, speaker cones, epoxy – loved the use of material and lines and colors.
Juan-Ramiro Torres, Elan Vital, acrylic on canvas – I always love Juan’s paintings – the texture and forms – beautiful.
Dylan Egon with an installation of his iconic imagery.
Lina Hsaio, Mutant 1, Mixed Media on Wood – I love Lina’s work- her mix of materials and play with visual and actual dimension is stunning.
Monique Sarfity, Pushing Buttons, Keyboard Mosaic – this was really fun !
Monique Sarfity, Brown Bird on My Shoulder, Scrabble Mosaic – as well as that.
Meghan McKee – this encaustic piece was my absolute favorite of the show – I so want to own it. Meghan does beautiful artwork and I definitely will source her out more :)
It was a great show and I am already looking forward to next year.
Do you have a local Art and Studio Tour where you live?
Hey Nathalie, I happened to see this post today. It was great meeting you at JCAST. You are very talented. i loved your site. Its really beautifully presented. Thanks for including me in your JCAST story. Hope to be in touch in future.
Nupur
Hi Nupur, it was wonderful meeting you! Hope to see you again in JC :) Love your work!!! Nat
Wow, what a fabulous art space! I love all the booths and the variety of art is so broad. Lots of ideas and inspiration there!
So glad you enjoyed it Peg! good to hear from you too – hope all is well in Australia :) Nat
Hi Nat!
Thanks for sharing. Maybe I will drive up from Delaware next year. I am in South Carolina for Thanksgiving so I missed the 22nd Southeastern Delaware art studio tour. It would have been so cool to see our local artists in their own creative spaces.
Nancy
That would be amazing Nancy! And yeah- hope you will see your local tour in 2017 – but hey- Thanksgiving in South Carolina sounds like a great place to be too :)hugs, nat
Thanks Nathalie for this lovely little art exhibit — it cheered up my morning after 2 weeks of feeling sad about the election. Art does heal, in many ways! Please keep them coming, always a joy to experience the work of others and honor their efforts across cultures, styles, and materials!
HI Judith, I am so glad I could cheer you up a little bit! Big hugs to you! Yes art does heal- I have been doing a lot o art the last couple weeks! Have a wonderful sunday!!! Nat
Time for a Stroll Through the Hood . Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and to get new ideas to create something.
The area around the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City is not really the most beautiful area- in fact …it is really really ugly and unfortunately often all that people see when they drive to or from New Jersey. So I love that there is some street art popping up here and there on the walls of ugly concrete. The above has some cool drippings and I love the monochromatic color scheme.
Love the stencil work in this one with all the different layering.
And this one just makes me happy because of the colors.
this one made me laugh – I think there was a time where we had cards that you could exchange with those- kind of like trading cards? Anyone remember – maybe only in Germany – I guess I am getting old I only have a vague idea of this.
Oh my- nature is the best painter …or maybe air pollution but let’s not think about this right now *Wink .
This time is truly amazing regarding sunsets viewed from our deck.
This one are the remains of a boardwalk at Liberty State Park – I assume it got destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. I love the texture and the pattern with the different materials- wouldn’t that be cool as a textured stamp?
Here is a view of Manhattan from Liberty State Park – the historic landing pier here in the front of the picture was also heavily damaged in Sandy and has not been restored yet.
The beautiful historic Liberty State Park train station, where the immigrants that came through Ellis Island headed out to all over America to start a new live. I love the building. It is talking to me *Wink. I need to make a painting of it some time.
Last week some of our friends hung out at my wonderful friend’s from Beekman Lane – who had a booth with their awesome vintage and antique stuff at the Historic All About Downtown Market. As you can see we are amazing helpers and made sure people came in and bought things ;)
I had to get this hilarious Valentines Card- probably from the 40s – it made me laugh.
and you see …we helped placing things at the right places too …the policemen on this Valentine’s Card actually has no pants on ….so …we needed to make sure he was covered – LOL . but joking aside the graphics of the box and the cards, and the red lunch box you see peeking underneath are just beautiful.
And last but not least …another sunset picture. I wish I could make such a nice color swirl into one of my paintings. Maybe by using Pouring Medium.
I hope you had fun with this stroll through my hood – take a walk next time you feel stuck when you are creating something or need a spark – it always helps me to get new ideas!
Beautiful sights. I didn’t realize you live in Jersey City. My husband and I both grew up in NJ, but moved to Arizona 28 years ago. Greg used to work for a bank (forget which one) in Jersey City, and would take the tubes over to the World Trade Center during his lunch break.
Love your strolls!
Thank you Jean for coming along! <3
Love the swirl of the clouds in that last sunset photo.
I always enjoy strolls through your various hoods Nat!
Thank you Sue – yeah that swirl was pretty cool ! Nature is really amazing!
Time for a Stroll Through the Hood . Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and to get new ideas to create something.
I cannot get enough of all the beautiful and different views Jersey City offers from the water front!
Our neighbor hood bakery not only makes really yummy bread, they also love to use stencils on the bread- and this one: LOVE!!!!
Look at this stink eye …he is not interested in any strolls through the hood …he rather spends his whole day exactly on that chair sleeping!
I love the iron work we have downtown in some areas around trees.
I have walked past this alley way a million times and never noticed it- and when I went through I found this mural.
The biggest Sunflowers I have ever bought at a farmers market – I had to carry them over my shoulder like a log and my arms were aching- but for 8Bucks they are like having the sun four times in your living room – plus, sunflowers are my favorite flowers .
Hope you liked the little stroll through the hood- until the next time . Have a gorgeous day
I love “visiting” your neighborhood through your strolls. So fun and happy! I would have loved to see you hauling those flowers around! hahahahah! xx Rae
LOL- thanks for your visit- and yes the hauling was quite a sight ;)
LOVE the stenciled bread! Almost too pretty to eat. I would manage though.
Sunflowers are one of my favs as well. Those are huge!
LOL- I inhaled the bread…the last one had Olympic rings :)
It’s been a while since I have posted pictures of a Stroll Through the Hood – so I figured- it is about time again :) Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and have new ideas to create something.
I am in full summer mode right now- we are taking a lot of bicycle trips and here is a favorite spot in Liberty State Park just a couple minutes from our house with an amazing view of Manhattan- yeah New Yorkers, take that, we have the best view ;)
New and colorful graffiti getting up on Columbus Ave.
Beautiful afternoon at the Jersey City Jazz Festival in the park in the Heights -again an amazing view.
The historic Ellis Island Immigration train station in Liberty State Park is open again. The already very fragile building took a big hit from Hurricane Sandy, and was closed off for past couple years. I so wish there was a way to have markets and other fun stuff going on there.
Jersey City LGBT Vigil for the victims in Orlando. Love is Love!
Love this colorful and fun mural I saw while exploring some different streets of the city.
Another bike ride- another view – Jersey City, Empire State Building, Word Trade Center …not too shabby :)
4th July in the park – it was such a beautiful day…until we were about to eat on the deck with our friends and wait for the fireworks…and it started pouring – oh well – LOL- we still had fun!
Love this by Sean9luo – “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him…”
Hope you liked the little stroll through the hood- until the next time . Have a gorgeous day
I just signed up for your CJS17 and was checking out your site. Decided to look at your stroll through the hood and was so excited to see that it was Jersey City. I am from Jersey City! and have wonderful full memories of that whole area.
Deb- that is so cool! I love Jersey City – it is wonderful to live here. You actually reminded me that it is time to do another Stroll through the Hood soon again :) Have a wonderful day and welcome to CJS!!!
I love Jersey City. We always stay there when visiting the NYC area. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous views.
Heheheh – I know this is crazy Nat but when I think of you taking a stroll in the HOOD – I envision all in black in hoodie/high tops – carrying a weapon and looking mean!!!!!!!!!! Soooooooooo…. I am thrilled to see such wonderful photos of things going on in the hood. Your visits are a delight. Thanks so much for sharing and squelching my fears :) Xj.
I loved seeing the street art!
Bill, glad you liked it! I will try to post more of it in the next months – I need to get back into the habit :)
Hi Nat,
I live in MA and come to NYC often. I would love the address’s for the art you showed in today’s post. Most wonderfully if you would privately email me? And any additional addresses you know of with wonderful street art that only a local would know. If and when you would like to come to MA I live 4 miles from the Plimouth Rock! I would love to show you around!
Sandy, here is a google map of some murals in Jersey City – not all of them are on there- but a lot – https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=14sZzQXKMLt7t94MLU34CKVsx-IY
Check it out- Jersey City is so close to NYC! I am sure a stroll in your hood is also amazingly inspiring. Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Your strolls are always so fun. I always get a different reality of that area through your photos—so beautiful. And the artistic talent is awesome! Thanks for sharing with us, Nat.
Glad you enjoy them Kathy !!!And yes- the artistic talent in this area is nuts!
I just love your strolls. Can’t you just feel the people move through the train station? You have an awesome NYC view for sure. Enjoy your summer Nat!
HA I know exactly what you mean about the people moving through the station – must have been such an emotionally loaden place too – you just arrived, you have no clue what to expect and lot’s of hope!
Enjoy your summer as well sue!!!
I finished a new painting inspired by a street here in Jersey City that I heard being referred to as the New Orleans Row.
I used a acrylic paints, spray paints, markers, acrylic media as well as some pastels and wax bars for highlights – I had a good time :)
This painting took quite some time – I had to let it sit longer periods of times to see if I would still think it was done and it was even hanging on the wall for a while to see how I would like it then. When do you know a painting is done? Well…when I stop dropping the vacuum cleaner when passing by because I need to change or add something ;)
I love that painting. Your city scenes just get better and better.
Totally laughed out loud when I read your dropping the vacuum statement – you are so cute!!! Well – you already know that I ADORE this painting. YOU – dear Nat – just are THE BEST at this type of city scape work. I honestly believe you could go down as an “old master” someday for doing these. They are so unique and intriguing. Looking at this one… I feel like I can see inside…. and I want to put my foot on those steps right NOW. It just CALLS to me – asking me to come inside. The colors are just STUNNING… so perfect in every way. And I know in my mind that the yellow strokes are supposed to be reflections of the sky/sun but they add such a magical and happy aura to the painting. And the yellow lights high up on the porch could also be hanging flower baskets – in my mind!!! There is nothing dark about this building – to me – it is warm and bright and full of life. JUST LIKE YOU!!!! Ok – I will stop rambling but I truly think this is a WORK OF ART that will someday be NOTICED. Hugs. j.
Depth and complexity and yet such a wonderful ethereal quality to this. Beautiful painting–love it!
I love this! The buildings are wonderful!
Hi Nat–I love the painting. I especially love your paintings of buildings and cityscapes. I do exactly what you do to decide if a painting is finished. I think that’s what most artists do. Best to you!
I traveled most of this month but still had some fun time strolling through my hood. It is unusually warm for November and so sitting outside and getting happy doggies jump onto your lap and greeting you is something that can happen. The pic makes me laugh- you can barely see where the dog starts and ends ;)
A lot of new street art was happening during November- here is a work in progress by Shepard Fairey again. I guess he likes J.C. :)
And here is another one in progress- I will try to make sure to post pictures of the finished work next month.
Below is a fun pigs in space graffiti by my friend Sam Pullin aka Bed Bugs in Love – love it! I also often say “if pigs could fly” …
Mana Contemporary had an Open Studio day – perfect time to goof around there with some friends …sorry but …cannot take everything art related too serious ;)
In front of Mana was this awesome new mural by How and Nosm
And last – this made me crack up when I was crossing the street and looked up – by @sean9lugo – super fun!
I love that there is so much street art is happening in Jersey City – it makes me excited to walk around everyday even if it is for normal errands like going to the supermarket and keeping an eye open if there is something new happening that might inspire me.
Hope you liked the stroll!
Have a gorgeous week
I really enjoy seeing your neighbourhood, would love to have so much street art around for inspiration. I live in a seaside area in NSW, Australia, lots of sea, sand and trees, but not much street art. A few years ago my husband and I went down to Sydney to a little island that was once a ship building facility and nowadays they use the area and all the old buildings for some art festivals. The one I am thinking of was called “Outpost”, and they had the most wonderful collection of street artists displaying their work, it was amazing. There was talk of it being an bi-annual event, but unfortunately I haven’t seen it advertised again. You may still be able to see a record of it on the web if you google “Outpost at Cockatoo Island”.
But thanks for sharing all the cool art in your neighbourhood.
Loved this post. Of course, the pics of you always make me smile because you are smiling/laughing in most of them!! But these were really fun with the doggie and silly friends! I have never seen this type of artwork in person – out in the world – so I can only imagine how it must look when you are standing near it. Personally – I so love seeing the world thru your eyes Nat. Seems like I have traveled miles with you and love it all. Love the bear and she is in orange – my fav!!! But these are all just so intriguing to me. Thanks bunches for sharing. j.
I really enjoy your “stroll through the hood” pictures. Jersey always has something going on with art. You picked the perfect place to live.
Awe- thank you Barb- yes it certainly wasn’t a bad choice :)
Great views of what looks like a very artistic city! Love the murals!
Thank you Jenny- yes there are heaps of artists here – lots of fun :)
Love your strolls! You certainly live in a cool area. It must be inspiring for you to just walk to a local market. Do you come home in the mood to create some art of your own?
thank you Lea! Yes- I often come home and cannot wait to get into the studio to try out something that was inspired by my stroll.
Love the stroll as usual!
Thank you Sue!
THE JERSEY CITY PROJECT celebrates its second anniversary with Project: MARKET on December 5th & 6th, 2015. I am super excited that I will be there with some of my original artwork but also my artwork as giclee prints, 2016 calendars, purses, and fridge magnets.
The heated outdoor market is located in the Historic Downtown section of Jersey City, NJ and will act as a kick-off to the holiday shopping season highlighting local, celebrating seasonal, and encouraging economic growth amongst small businesses. Melding an old-world bazaar aesthetic with elements from popular culture, the market is not unlike the downtown area where it’s located – a burgeoning neighborhood rich with history and ripe with new development.
If you are in the area – come on by and visit us – behind the City Hall just a 5 mins walk from the Grove Street Path Station! I would love to see you!
I finally finished this painting – I had a good time painting with Inks, Acrylic Paints, Spray Paint and Markers . It has quite some texture created with Heavy Body Paint but also with Natural Sand which is hard to capture on photos and the color choice was first a bit unconventional but then started speaking to me :)
Here is the list of supplies I used – as I know some of you enjoy seeing what went into it :)
I hope you have a gorgeous and creative day!
Wow Nathalie. So much to keep coming back to in this as a viewer I mean. Complex and wonderful. I do like the unusual color choice–it makes me as a viewer want to put a story to it. Bravo!
Comments (6)
Cheryl
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Ohhhh, I love this painting! Awesome work.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Thank you so much Cheryl!
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Barb Charlotte, NC
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I don’t say it enough but, I enjoy your site. You always have fresh ideas.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Thank you so much Barb! have a gorgeous day and thank you for visiting me :)
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Joi@RR
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Oh Oh OH OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh – It’s INCREDIBLE Nat. Those colors… and those buildings…. AMAZING. The snow is perfect too. I agree – the only way to have snow is in a painting!!! This is a MASTERPIECE…. in my eyes!! You made my week – thanks so much for sharing. Xj.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Awe. Joi- you are the super sweetest. thank you so much !!! have a beautiful weekend!
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